Speaker orders committee to reconsider Abodakpi's complaint of contempt

Accra, July 10, GNA - Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday ordered the Committee on Privileges to start afresh its task of determining whether or not Mr Dan Abodakpi's privileges as a Member of Parliament have been breached.

He ruled that the Committee, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Freddie Blay had not answered questions raised in the Member's petition on his appearance schedule before an Accra Fast Track Court.

The Speaker has pronounced on two objections raised by Mr Doe Adjaho, the Minority Chief Whip and Mr Norbert Awulley, NDC-Builsa South, questioning the propriety of the conclusions of the report.

The Committee had recommended the setting up of a special committee consisting of the Standing Orders, Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary, Judiciary and Privileges Committees to define the parameters of what constituted breech of members' privileges. It also described the member's petition as "premature although his fears were reasonable and genuine".

Mr Adjetey said it was the sole responsibility of the Committee to determine the issue and, therefore, should not pass the buck.

He asked the Committee to determine whether or not the Member's going to Court on specific dates has the tendency to obstruct or impede him in carrying out his duties as a Member of Parliament.

Mr Abodakpi petitioned the House on November 28, 2002 that he was convinced that the Judge's directive to him to appear three times a week contravened Article 122 of the Constitution and Standing Order 28.